Mirror or like framed article



July 17, 1934.y

T. M. KEEFE "MIRROR `OR LIKE FRAMED ARTICLE Filed May 19. 1931 j lu) Patented vJuly 17, 1934 Tl'ie' present invention' embodies certain 'important improvements over the construction disclosedin Reissue Patent 13,140, dated'Aug. 2, 1910, which relates vto means for mounting mirrors, p ictures, etc. in metallic frames. In.'v that patent'clamping-means are disclosed .which are held to theframe by means o'visible screws,

such clamping 'means securing the mirror or other article to the frame. While the present 'invention does not necessarilylpreclude securing means which are visible,

nevertheless itis preferred that nothing butthe framed article be visible, `inasinuchas the profession andthe trade atlarge are presenting Lobjecf tions to' visible fasteningsfor suchvaframed ary`r ticle, especially when it takes the form of a mirror havinga metalframe, as it is preferred that the same lie Vflat-,against the Wallfso as to produce a neat and chaste` ei fect in, bath rooms and else# '20'wherel- Therefore, an outst/indingobjectv of the present invention is preferably to `provide a mirror which,

while it may be set flat against a wall, is 'se cu re din positioniby fastening means Whicharepon'- cealedlnorv invisible while vthe mirror is so set.

Another object o f the present invention is to provide a rnirror or like framed article which may be. manufacturedin allj shapes and sizes vand wherein Visible screws orsimilar fastenings `are' go'entirely. unnecessary, and wherewitli, it "isbnly desirable ftof use suitable" substitutes 'for such' screws, they same being .in effect'i'ntegrall portions frame lis use dlf through thejniar'g-inal o redgeffl'ang'evf theffraxne, 4:5' thereby avoiding the necessity of kperfor ating `Such flange, ,so'lthalt' aj'sniooth' and f continuous outer a i"nirro'r or, framed article, havingA v`parts vwhich maybe' readily assembledand which vwhen as sembled will "beheld rigidlyfand'securely together,r

and which construction nece's'sitates fewer 'separate loose parts thanheretofore,` l'

v'1"'l^. ies e bei r 1g among the objects of the vpresent invention, the same consists ofv certain'features or construction and combinations of parts to be' hereinafter described and then claimedwith re ference'to the accompanying'drawing llustratL of the metal'rame ofthe mir'r'orwhen suoli' metalV Anotherobjectf'of thefinvention-'is to` provide: clarnp s at'the'back of the Imirror o'rother article which, areheld'own 'by' .means O f, locking ,df vices; in substitution for screws, which do not p ass plate and cushioning sheet iti/'the frame and'over't Y [Other objects of theinvention are vto provide ing'a preferred embodimentof the invention, andf wherein j l Figure v1 isa rear elevation o f a mirroranda supporting' bar according tov the present inven` tion,'parts being broken away;

60 Fig. 2 yis a longitudinal vsection on the line 2 2 ofrpghh? I y n Figf is an enlarged detail sectional viewl off a portion of the mirrordis'closing a' prelimjriary l set-up of the securing members; l

vFig, 4 is a similar section showing the 'tongue or lug of thelocking meansbent downv in lactive position:

Fig. 5 is a plan' of the parts shownin Fig. 4; A

Fig. 46 is a detail Vperspective view 'ofone (ifi-,liel attaching or locking members; .i Y

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of oneof the clamping members;

A8 is a sectional detail` view on line 8`-' f8 Fig. v1, illustrating how vthe"supporting bar is engagedwith the mirror; and

fFg-` 9 is Van enlarged perspective'view of "one, end of the supporting bar. l j Fig s.' 1 and 2 of the drawing illustrate .a mirror'or framed' articlewhich is of oblong. rec;y tangular shapeQbut ofcourse othershapesandi proportions' may "be employed. When .an tangle; metal frame is .used it provides alilat. face I lang'ev 10` and a ilat, edge fiangell, Iwhich are atright angles to each other. A nat article 12` sl`ich' as a mirror plate ofY glass andwhich'is silvered' at' the back in any approved way is mounted in thel frame 10, `11.` f f An 'intervening cushioning layer 1 3 consisting preferably of a sheetof soft pasteboardis usually, placed' under the metal back, plate 14 and 'xangainsty theback of the mirror plate. Notches 1 5 arefproff vided in the edges `f theib'ack plate; andin the: opposite yedges of the back plate, at `points co.- incident .with the middle line o f the back plata' there are preferably longer 1 10tches 15a. Al l of these notche' 1,5, 15a enablegthe' 'assemblyliofithe means which 'areemployed for securing the back the fr arnex; Such means are more clearly. disclosed'in Figs. 3, l4:, 5`an'd 6. Theyinclude a num-V bei' of similar flat pieces 17 of malleable sheet metal having integral guides 18 at the sides. These guides are provided by bending side portions of the sheet metal inwardly towards each other into substantially L-shape, having the longer legs of the same spaced away from the main piece 17, so that a socket is provided between the latter and the inturned guides 18. Each of the flat pieces 17 is extended longitudinally beyond the guides 18 so as to provide a tongue or lug 19 of suitable length, so that it may be bent over toward the guides 18.

A plurality of the sockets thus provided is mounted upon the inner surface of the edge flange 11, as more clearlyillustrated in Fig. 1. It is not necessary to perforate the ilange 11 in any manner, inasmuch as a plurality of such sockets, each like the other and formed from malleable metal into a main piece 17, guides 18 and lug 19, are preferably spot-welded, brazed or soldered to the flange 11, at points between the flange and the main pieces 17 of the sockets. When the sockets are thus rigidly mounted upon the inner surface of the flange 1l they will extend transversely of such ilange and at right angles to the face flange 10, being rigidly fixed as it were in the angle between the two flanges of the frame. In this way the sockets practically become integral portions of the edge ange 11, their lengths being approximately equivalent to the combined thicknesses of the plate 12, sheet of pasteboard 13 and the metal back plate 14.

' When the sockets have been properly mounted upon the angle metal frame, the tongues or lugs v 19 will project at intervals apart rearwardly from the edge ilange 11, as shown in Fig. 3. When these parts have been assembled, the article to be framed may be set therein for securement. In the illustrated instance the glass mirror 12 is first set .against the inner surface of the face flange 10,

then the cushioning layer or pasteboard 13 is applied and finally the back plate 14. The next step is to make use of clamping members preferably of angle metal, which provide each with a leg 20 and a leg 21 extending at a suitable angle thereto. A plurality of these clamping members is provided corresponding in number with that of the sockets. The legs 20 of the clamping members are now introduced into the sockets until the legs 21 are brought to bear against the back plate 14, such legs 21 extending inwardly away from the edge ilange 11. Preferably the legs 20 and 21 are bent at somewhat less than a right angle, as in said reissue patent, so that the tips of the legs 2l will rst come in contact with the back plate 14, as

lin Fig. 3 herein. The clamping members 20, 21

the clamping members to increase and to ultimately rmly bind the parts which are between the legs 21 and the face plate 10, as in Fig. 4.

` The gradual forcing down of the clamps is due to theifact that each bendable tongue or lug 19 mi has its bending line determined by bearing on the outer corner of each clamp, and when the lug is bent down further it forces the leg 20 of the clamp more fully into the socket and finally bears firmly down vonto the leg 21 of the clamp, thereby increasing the bearing area of the leg 21 on the back.

plate 14. Such action and result are somewhat facilitated by extending the legs of each clamp at less than a right angle, the one to the other, as the leg 21 will suitably give or yield to the pressure of the lug 19. Also the bent over portion of the lug is preferably rather shorter than leg 21 for obtaining more satisfactory results. As a result of the combined functions of the separate clamp and the bendable lug, the clamp is reinforced for a suitable portion of its length so that when the clamps are properly applied, the parts in the frame are more solidly and rmly held in place than heretofore, and at the same time such retaining means preferably are concealed.

When the parts of the mirror or other framed article are all properly assembled into one substantially rigid article, the securing devices will be concealed entirely behind the edge flange 11, and it is preferred that there be no protrusion thereof beyond the free edge of the flange 11. The mirror plate 12 will thus be rmly bound and locked within the frame and be snug against the face flange 10.

Suitable means are provided for hanging the mirror or other framed article in position on a wall, as shown in Fig. 2. Such means preferably reside in a metallic supporting bar 22 which is of slightly less length than the width of the framed article, as shown in Fig. 1. (See also Figs. 2, 8 and 9.) Each end of the supporting bar 22 is provided with a recess 23 in its upper edge, and beyond the recesses the end portions of the bar are bent in the same direction in parallel planes s0 as to provide end members 24 and hook portions 25 extending breadthwise of the bar and upwardly therefrom. The ends of these hook portions are slightly tapered, as shown. Screw or nail holes 26 are also provided in the ends of the bar or strip 22. l

Before the mirror is applied to a wall, the desired location thereof is selected and the supporting bar 22placed in proper horizontal position and secured by means of nails or screws 27 which pass through the holes 26. As the body of the bar between the parallel end members is substantially at, it will be caused to lie flat against the wall, with the parallel end members extending outwardly and the hooks upwardly. Inasmuch as it is preferred that the notches 15a at the mid-length of the mirror be of a length more than twice the width of the supporting bar 22, it will be seen that either end of the mirror may be placed uppermost, because the parallel end portions of the bar may be passed into the notches 15a at either side of the securing devices which arey located at said notches. When this has been done, the mirror is allowed to drop a slight distance so as to enable the hook-portions 25 to engage underneath the legs 21 of the clamping members. As these are rigidly held in position, they will constitute firm abutments resting upon the longitudinal edges of` the bar 22 which are at the bottom of the end recesses 23 thereof, so thatthe mirror or other framed article is rmly supported and set ush against the Wall.

It is obvious from the illustrations and description that the invention is susceptible to more or less modication without departing from it as expressed in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is,-

1. In a mirror or the like framed article, the combination of a metal frame having an edge flange, a plurality of metal lugs rigid with the flange and located at its inner surface, a plurality of corresponding sockets under the lugs,

, face flange, a plurality of angular metal clamping members having corresponding legs mounted in the sockets, and the other legs extending inwardly from the rear ends of the sockets and adapted to hold the article in position, and a plurality of bendable metal lugs rigid with and extending inwardly from the edge flange, the lugs bearing on the inward legs of the clamping members to press them forwardly,

3. In a mirror or the like framed article, the combination of an angle-metal frame providing a face flange and an edge flange, a plurality of metal sockets of bendable metal and permanently secured on the inner surface of the edge flange,

an article such as a glass fitted back of the face flange, a plurality of angular metal clamping members having corresponding legs mounted in the sockets, and the other legs extending inwardly from the rear ends of the sockets and adapted to hold the article in position, and a plurality of bendable metal lugs integral with and extending inwardly from the sockets, and bearing on the inward legs of the clamping members to press them forwardly.

4. In a mirror or like framed article, the combination with a frame, the article therein, a back plate provided with notches in its edges, and sel cured to the frame and over the article, abutments at the notches, a supporting bar provided with means enabling it to be mounted on a wall, the bar extending transversely of the back plate and provided with hook shaped portions for entering the notches and supporting the framed article through the medium of such abutments.

5. In a mirror or like framed article, the combination with a frame, the article therein, a back plate provided with openings, means extending through the openings for securing the back plate to the fra-me and over the article, a supporting bar provided with means enabling it to be mounted on a wall, the bar extending transversely of the back plate and provided with hook shaped portions for entering the openings, engaging the securing means, and supporting the framed article.

6. A supporting bar for an article, having at its opposite ends parallel members provided with hook portions extending in the planes of such members, such members and hook portions extending breadthwise of and substantially at right angles to the bar.

7. A frame for a mirror or the like, the frame being of angle metal to provide an inward face flange and a surrounding rearward flange, and including pre-formed metal sockets integral with the frame, the sockets extending rearwardly at an angle to the face flange and transversely of and upon the inner face of the surrounding flange, and the surrounding flange concealing the sockets, and bendable lugs at the open ends of the sockets, such sockets adapted to receive clamping members for securing a mirror or the like in the frame, and the bendable lugs to conne the clamping members in the sockets.

8. In a mirror or like framed article, the combination of a frame of angle metal providing an inward face flange and a surrounding edge flange, the frame being provided with a plurality of benda-ble metal lugs, arranged adjacent to and extending inwardly from the edge flange, and spaced apart clamping members separately mounted upon the edge flange and corresponding inl number with the lugs, towards and against which members the lugs are bent for the mutual cooperation of the lugs and clamping members in retaining the contents of the frame.

9. In a mirror or like framed article, the combination of a metallic frame having a face flange and an imperforate rearward edge flange, a plurality of clamping members mounted in fixed position in the space between the two flanges and adapted for positively holding the article to the face flange, and lugs of bendable metal integral with the edge flange and constituting pressure members for separately positively bearing upon the separate clamping members and retaining them in their holding position.

THOMAS M. KEEFE. 

